Applying to MD school without research

[mishyfishy333]

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Hi everyone. I'm applying next cycle and am trying to put together a school list. I have a lot of clinical volunteer/shadowing hours, but am lacking in research: 1 quarter volunteering in a research lab and 1 year working full time R&D in a biotech company, so no real academic research done. Despite this, should I still be applying to MD schools that have a "research/thesis requirement" on the MSAR, or should I just ignore those schools entirely? Thanks.

 

[skk_]

1 quarter volunteering in a research lab and 1 year working full time R&D in a biotech company

This is honestly pretty substantial research experience lol.

Even if you didn't have this, you really shouldn't let the thesis/research requirement scare you aware from applying to schools that have one if you're otherwise competitive. I can't speak for other schools, but at my school (which has kinda become the poster-child for "research"-intensive medical schools for better or worse) the "research"/thesis requirement has a much broader scope than most people realize going in, and many people opt to do things like community health/global health projects rather than "typical" bench/computational/clinical research to fulfill the requirement, just due to where their own personal interests lie.

In terms of what schools with research/thesis requirements are looking for, at my school at least, while a strong research background is definitely viewed as a positive, its by no means a requirement either - many of my classmates came in having had very minimal research experience, and had no issues with getting accepted, nor getting involved in research since starting.

 

[jarednogeek]

lol that's more than enough research. my only research was a semester long bio II lab that I made a research poster from. 10 II's and counting.

 

[LadyGlen]

n=1, but I applied to MD schools with zero research. I'm also a non-trad with a humanities background, so perhaps I get some leeway there because of that. All of that to say, it hasn't held me back at all with interviews at research heavy schools.

 

[RNthenDoc]

I had one year of very basic undergrad bench work and got an MD acceptance. Your CV may not be enough for super research-focused schools but I bet most schools would consider the box checked.

 

[mr. tree]

I have 0 research 6 DO interviews and 3 MD

 

[AdenineThomasPhosphate]

I got 2 MD acceptances with absolutely no research.

 

[chemdoctor]

Dude. Research is a must have. Are you crazy?

Look JK! OP you don’t need research unless you want the powerhouse schools.
You’ll be more than fine.

Maybe try to pick up a semesters worth of basic bench work, If u have time. If not; that’s totally fine!

 

[jarednogeek]

I got II at 2 of my states most research focused schools, UTSW and Baylor, with little to zero research. A semesters worth might not hurt

 

[Hass_Love_Fitness]

I’m a non-trad. I applied with zero lab research, but I also own a successful business and have 2 kids to care for, one of which has special needs so i’m sure I got some leeway as a result.

 

[efaefae]

I got 2 MD acceptances with absolutely no research.

What schools? Some higher tier schools want research.

 

[AdenineThomasPhosphate]

What schools? Some higher tier schools want research.

Buffalo and Upstate, I’m an NY resident.

 

[skk_]

In a 2013 AAMC survey* where 127 medical admissions offices responded, found research experience is only of medium importance at private schools and of low importance to public schools as an experiential factor in offering both interview invitations and acceptance. Healthcare experience, community service/volunteer experience, experience with underserved populations, navigated through cultural barriers or challenges, leadership experience were considered of higher importance in factors for interview invites and offers of acceptances. This was further borne out in the 2015 AAMC Survey** where 130 medical school admissions found that both community service or volunteer in both medical and non-medical settings ranked higher in importance than physician shadowing


*https://www.aamc.org/download/434596/data/usingmcatdata2016.pdf#page=7
see page 3 (pdf p7) Table 1. Mean Importance Ratings of Academic, Experiential, and Demographic Application Data Used by Admissions Committees for Making Decisions about Which Applicants to Receive an Interview Invitation and Offer Acceptance (N=127)

** https://www.aamc.org/download/462316/data/mcatguide.pdf#page=21
See page 4 (pdf page 9) Table 1. Mean Importance Ratings of Academic, Experiential, Demographic, and Interview Data Used by Admissions

Don't disagree with anything you said, but the OP specifically asked about the importance of research in applying to MD schools that require a thesis/dissertation to be written and completed during medical school as part of their MD graduation requirements. This is such a specific subset of medical schools that general data doesn't really help, especially since the group of schools that require this include both private and public medical schools. All of these schools tend to value research above the norm just due to the nature of their missions, although like I said above, based on my experience attending one of these schools myself (Stanford) it still isn't a dealbreaker to apply with minimal research experience provided the rest of your application is competitive.

It feels like everyone just looked at the title of the original post, and ignored the content of the post itself lol

 

[MyOdyssey]

Don't disagree with anything you said, but the OP specifically asked about the importance of research in applying to MD schools that require a thesis/dissertation to be written and completed during medical school as part of their MD graduation requirements. This is such a specific subset of medical schools that general data doesn't really help, especially since the group of schools that require this include both private and public medical schools. All of these schools tend to value research above the norm just due to the nature of their missions, although like I said above, based on my experience attending one of these schools myself (Stanford) it still isn't a dealbreaker to apply with minimal research experience provided the rest of your application is competitive.

It feels like everyone just looked at the title of the original post, and ignored the content of the post itself lol

Why do many top tier medical schools care about research for their MD-only candidates if those candidates are going to end up being clinicians?

 

[efaefae]

I got II at 2 of my states most research focused schools, UTSW and Baylor, with little to zero research. A semesters worth might not hurt

Did you prematch at UTSW tho?

 

[ObjectiveBoba]

Why do many top tier medical schools care about research for their MD-only candidates if those candidates are going to end up being clinicians?

Because many of these students end up at academic centers doing clinical research. Their stated mission goals usually include the line "training the leaders of medicine" -- difficult to do that without research. In fact, many top basic science researchers hold only MD degrees. If you peruse faculty at top medical schools, you might find most of them are MD rather than MD/PhD (in part because there are more MDs). The degree itself does not mean you are a pure clinician.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Because many of these students end up at academic centers doing clinical research. Their stated mission goals usually include the line "training the leaders of medicine" -- difficult to do that without research. In fact, many top basic science researchers hold only MD degrees. If you peruse faculty at top medical schools, you might find most of them are MD rather than MD/PhD (in part because there are more MDs). The degree itself does not mean you are a pure clinician.

So the Harvards, Stanfords, Penns, Dukes, etc. of the world are happy to train MDs who end up doing clinical research as opposed to doing big impact basic science research in the biomedical sciences?

 

[ObjectiveBoba]

So the Harvards, Stanfords, Penns, Dukes, etc. of the world are happy to train MDs who end up doing clinical research as opposed to doing big impact basic science research in the biomedical sciences?

Some of them go on to do basic science research, although not nearly at the proportion of MD/PhDs who conduct basic science research, for obvious reasons.

 

[Blanky]

Im research is viewed differently at upper tier schools, but I think this site over values research hours when compared with volunteer work and clinical experience.

 

[jarednogeek]

Did you prematch at UTSW tho?

Interview at UTSW in 2 weeks. But if a school sends you an II you definitely have a chance of acceptance, so I don’t believe extensive research is necessary, but can only speak about the schools I’ve applied to. Have received II to every MD in Texas. Schools want a lot, research is just one piece of the puzzle.

 

[Lawpy]

Iirc Stanford is the only school that seems to strongly value research to the point of recommending applicants to have publications.